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Business Licenses

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1. What is a business license?

Business licenses are permits issued by government agencies that allow individuals or companies to conduct business within the government’s geographical jurisdiction. It is the authorization to start a business issued by the local government.

2. Who is required to obtain a license?

Every person engaged or intending to engage in any calling, business, occupation or profession, in whole or part, within the limits of County of Orangeburg, South Carolina is required to pay an annual license fee for the purpose of doing business and obtain a business license.

3. When do I need a business license?

An annual business license fee is required any time a person or business:

1. Is physically located in Orangeburg County
2. Conducts business in the unincorporated areas of Orangeburg County, i.e., outside a city limits, regardless of where the business is located

4. When does the business license expire?

All business licenses expire on April 30th.

5. When is payment due for the business license?

Payment is due upon applying for all new businesses and March 31st for all business license renewals.

6. What gross should be reported for the license renewal?

Your business license should be renewed based on the gross income for the previous calendar year (January 1st through December 31st) or portion thereof if your company did not operate the entire year.

7. How is the fee calculated?

The cost for the business license is calculated by using the gross income as required by South Carolina Code Section 4-9-30(12) and the rate scale set in the ordinance. For help, call 803-268-2923.

8. Are rates calculated the same for revenue in the millions?

After income exceeds one million, the rates start declining and there is a cap at ten million. Any revenue over ten million does not require additional fees.

9. When will penalties be assessed?

On May 1st a 5% penalty will be assessed. The penalty will increase 5% each month the license fee is delinquent.

10. Are there different rates for in-county and out of county businesses?

Yes, the out of county fees are double the in-county rates.

11. If I am doing more than one type of business activity at my business, do I need more than one business license?

It depends; the current ordinance requires a separate license for each place of business and for each classification of business conducted at one place. However, a business may choose whether or not to identify how much revenue is generated by each type of business occurring at the business. If the business does not wish or is not able to separate the amount of income generated by each business activity, the business license fee will be calculated on the combined gross income. However, each business activity may require different County approvals.

12. My business is in a City or Town, do I also need a County License?

No, if your business is not located in unincorporated Orangeburg County and you do no business in the unincorporated areas of the County, you will not need a County license.

13. If I own land with trees and wish to sell them do I need a license?

If you are a landowner only selling trees occasionally, no. If you are in the business of buying and selling trees, probably.

14. If a company is coming in to buy my trees, do they need a license?

No, that is not considered conducting business; that is no different than buying goods at a store.

15. I have a roadside produce stand or produce truck etc. Do I need a business license?

No, Agricultural products are exempt from County vendor licenses. SC Code Sec. 40-41-90

16. Are any businesses exempt from the County’s business license requirement?

Yes. State law (Sec 4-9-30(12)) establishes that certain businesses are exempt from County business licensing requirements. These include the following:

1.  teachers, ministers, and rabbis;
2.  telephone, telegraph, gas and electric utilities or other utilities regulated by the Public Service Commission;
3.  insurance companies, and
4.  businesses making loans secured by real estate (unless it has a premises located in the county but outside a municipality).

Other businesses exempted from all (county or city) business license taxes by State or US law include the following:

1.  Vendors selling produce
2.  air express and passenger interstate transportation;
3.  alcoholic beverages;
4.  banks and building loan companies;
5.  credit unions, both state and federal;
6.  Marketing Cooperative Associations and Mutual benevolent aid associations; and
7.  Workers’ Compensation insurance premiums.
   
   
   

17. Does the County of Orangeburg provide retail licenses?

No, we offer county business licenses. You will need to contact Jeff Moore with SCDOR to obtain a state retail license.

18. What if my business closes? What should I do?

If your business closes during the year, you are to notify the Business License Department within 10 days of the closure. You will be responsible for paying a closeout fee on the gross of the business from January 1st to the closing date.